Compartmented envelope



Dec. 31, 1963 M. B. STEVENSON COMPARTMENTED ENVELOPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14. 1960 m w W MAYNE B. STEVENSON Dec. 31, 1963 M. B. STEVENSQN 3,116,010

COMPARTMENTED ENVELOPE Filed March 14. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. MAYNE. B. STEVENSON United States Patent Oil ice Edldfiid Patented Dec. 31, 1063 3,116,010 CQMPARTMENTED ENVELOPE Mayne B. Stevenson, Glendale, Califi, assignor to Arvey Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filled Mar. 14, 196i), Ser. No. 14,872 1 tllainr. (Ci. 229-72) This invention relates to a compartmented envelope to be used for transmittal of mixed classes of mail such as a first-class enclosure with third-class printed matter.

Present postal regulations provide that envelopes exceeding certain specified widths or lengths may be sealed regardless of contents provided proper postage is aifixed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel dual compartment envelope, the two compartments thereof being adapted to be jointly sealed by means of a single flap.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dual compartment envelope adapted for the jointly sealed mailing of firstand third-class material characterized in that the third-class compartment can be separately opened while leaving the first-class compartment sealed.

A further object is to form the envelope of the present invention from a unitary blank, wherein the blank is formed with a window in one of the components thereof forming a part of the first-class mailing compartment.

Other objects and advantages and the economies of my invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a blank for forming the dual compartment envelope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one of the side flaps of FIG. 1 folded against the central or body panel thereof.

16. 3 is a further progressive view showing the two side flaps overfolded against the body panel and in edgewise overlapped relationship to each other.

PEG. 4 is a further progressive perspective view showing the bottom flap folded up against the side flaps.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of the invention illustrating the reception of separate articles in the two separate compartments or pockets thereof.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the envelope of the present invention showing the sealing-down of the sealing flap.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the sealed and filled assembly of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a panel cut and scored to provide a central or body portion 10, a side flap 11 extending from one edge thereof and hinged thereto on the line 12, a second side flap 13 hinged to the body panel on the line 14, these flaps being adapted to be folded over and against the body panel 10 with the edge of one flap in overlapping relationship to the edge of the other, as at 26. Extending from one of the remaining free edges of the body 10 is a sealing flap 15 hinged thereto on the line 16 and provided on its outermost longitudinal edge portion with a line of remoistenable or other adhesive 17.

Another flap 18 is hinged on the line 19 to the body panel 10, this flap 18 being provided with spaced lines of adhesive 20 and 21 extending normally from the hinge line 19 to the opposed free edge of the flap 1 8. This flap 18 is further formed with window 22, extending between the lines of adhesive 20 and 21 and is closed by a transparent sheet 2-3.

In assembly, after overfolding the side flaps 1 1 and 13 against the body 10, the flap 18 is then brought over the flaps 11 and 13 and secured to them by the spaced lines is of a length less than that of the body panel 10 so that on being folded thereover it extends spaced from the fold line 16 and preferably spaced from the adjacent edges of of adhesive 20 and 2 1. It will be noted that the flap 18 the flaps 11 and 13. In this manner two compartments are formed, one between the fiap 18 and the overfoided flaps 11 and 13, and a separate pocket between the body 10 and the flaps 11 and 13. These two pockets can be jointly closed by bringing down the sealing flap 15" and adhesively securing its gumined portion 17 against the longitudinal free edge portion of flap 18, as best shown in HQ. 6. From this figure and from FIG. 7 it will be seen that the stripe or zone of adhesive 17 on flap 15, and the dimension of the latter is such that when the flap 15 is sealed down, its line of adhesive 17 extends in part onto the upper marginal edge portion of flap 18 and above it and across a longitudinal area of the overfo'lded flaps 11 and 13.

The sealed envelope may be opened for access to the third-class material 2 5 in the compartment between the body panel 10 and the side flaps 11 and 13 by severing the sealing flap 15 and the body panel 10 on the fold line 16, in aid of which, although not shown, there may be inwardly included a tear strip or cord. At the same time, the pocket formed between the flap 1S and the side flaps 1'1 and 13 remains sealed by the adhesive 17 on flap 15, in view of the disposition of the adhesive 17, until it is desired to separately open the first-class compartment for access to the contents 24 therein.

It will thus be seen that the gummed area 17 on the closure flap 15 will hold secure the flap 15 on the firstclass pocket directly above flap 18, even though the unit is slit open at the score line 16 to permit examination of and access to the contents of the third-class pocket.

I claim:

A dual compartment envelope composed of a unitary blank cut, scored and folded to define a rectangular body portion, a pair of side flaps hinged to one opposed pair of edges of said body portion and folded over and against said body portion with the edge of one of said side flaps overlapping that of the other, a bottom flap hinged to one of the remaining opposed edges of said body portion and folded over and against said side flaps, spaced lines of adhesive extending substantially normal to the hinge lines of said side flaps sealing them to said bottom fiap to thereby form a first pocket between said side flaps and said bottom flap and a second pocket between said side flaps and said body panel, said bottom flap being formed with a window, a sealing flap hinged to the remaining edge of said body portion and an area or" adhesive material extending along the outermost longitudinal edge portion of said sealing flap adapted to overlie the upper longitudinal edge portion of the bottom flap and an exposed adjacent portion of said overlapped side flaps for jointly adhering said sealing flap to both said side flaps and to said bottom flap whereby when the envelope is sealed, severance of the sealing flap on its hinge line will provide access to said second pocket while permitting said first pocket to remain sealed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,262 Jones Nov. 17, 1908 2,104,352 Overly Jan. 4, 1938 2,236,659 White Apr. 1, 1941 2,268,795 Berkowitz Jan. 6, 1942 2,749,021 Hiersteiner June 5, 1956 2,860,826 Cooke Nov. 18, 1958 2,887,327 Tucker May 1 9,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3 ll6 OlO December 31 1963 Mayne Bo Stevenson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2 line 4, strike out "of adhesive 20 and 21. It will be noted that the flag? l8" and insert the same before "is of a in line l, same column 2,

Signed and sealed this 6th day of April 1965.,

SEAL) Mtest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER' \ttesting Officer 

